When Damien explained what I had told them, the General leapt out of his chair. As he paced, he clarified several times exactly what I had said. The fact I hadn't shared everything was pointed out on numerous occasions.

“Do the slaves know how this world is organized?" the General asked pointedly.

“Two know, sir," Damien replied and the General lunged at me.

It was Christof's quick reflexes that kept the General's hands from closing around my throat. I was jerked off my kneeling place and shoved between Bane and the wall. My family took a defensive posture between me and the General.

"They do not want her harmed, General," Damien said with authority.

“Nu-reeh will destroy your family if you do that. This is a breeding slave, she holds more value than all of us, or so I am told.”

I peeked from behind Bane's back to see the General fuming. Two of his Brothers were holding him back, but the others looked just as angry. He sputtered a curse when he saw me looking at him, so I dropped my head.

“This is my compound, my men!" the General fumed. "Do you know how difficult it is to organize the men? To keep them happy and busy? Who Damien, who knows?"

The General wasn't surprised Basin and his Brothers knew, they'd been acting odd for days. He was surprised Fuji's owners knew, they had not seemed upset ever. They displayed the same cool temperament they'd always had. The General wanted to speak with both groups though.

Once the General was calm, he assessed the situation more thoroughly. The things I'd told the majority of the girls would actually not cause too much damage. The slaves had been left to think the women took me and kept my child. I'd never said the women had any authority. That I'd been pregnant may surprise the men, but it wouldn't break them.

Bane didn't move me back to my kneeling place. While we talked to the General I stood against the wall and Bane stood in front of me. His posture Looked relaxed, but I laid my hands on the small of his back and felt the coiled muscle. He was ready for anything that came at him.

“I will not harm it," the General finally said gesturing to me. "The behavior was unacceptable, but I will not risk my family."

Damien thanked the General, but Bane didn't move. The conversation about what to do continued for a while longer. I stayed standing against the wall and staring at Bane's wide shoulders.

The General made sure I understood now. There were just things I could not say. At Damien's prompting I assured him I would not talk about the world's secrets.

“The other slaves that know," the General said sitting down and watching me. "Do they pose a danger?"

Hersham, the General's Brother, spoke then. He seemed to be the Brother that understood slaves the best. He noted Fuji was from Batra, she would never say anything her owners didn't want her to. The human slave may be an issue.

My hands tightened on Bane's waist. I was terrified they would kill my friend, my best friend. Before I had the chance to say anything the General stated his decision was made and he excused my owners. Bane grabbed an arm and propelled me toward the door.

I tried to speak and was harshly rebuked as we left the General's house. Now was not the time for questions. Kein whispered we would talk when we could. Damien Led us across the courtyard and I followed him obediently.

Upstairs, when we could finally talk, I expressed my fear. If the General killed Rose I felt Like I'd never survive. She was a link to my former life and the best friend I'd ever had. Rose had supported me through everything.

Damien found my obsession with the General killing slaves ridiculous.

“Has he ever killed a slave that you've seen?" Bane asked.

“Why the sudden obsession with death?"